On the Fourth Post of Christmas, I’m kicking off the first day of December (officially Christmas Season!!!) with a day off, Hallmark movies (after leg day at the gym!), some Christmas shopping, and a plethora of Peppermint Mochas.
Oh, my life is an ode to Peppermint Mochas. Honestly, I love them more than Pumpkin Spice. That’s right! I said it! I’ll take a PM over a PSL any day.
What’s not to like? It’s peppermint and chocolate. I’ll take it hot or iced. I’ve had a little of both today. Normally, I only indulge in one a day; but today I had one of each – and half of the iced is still in the fridge. For some reason, I needed a little extra boost today – likely because I’m heading out for the evening and I feel like it will probably be a long night with lots of wine and festivities.
And, like I said, it’s my day off and I tried to sleep in. I even stayed up a little later last night, but my body is so accustomed to dragging itself out of bed by 5am, that I woke at pretty much the same time this morning. And not that I couldn’t survive without coffee, but I indulged in a little extra today.
And why not? After all, it’s the first day of December!
I like my PM a little bitter, with quality strong coffee, and no whip (usually). I’m always on the hunt for the perfect PM, but my basic go-to is McDonald’s. I know, I know? McDonald’s over Starbucks??? But, it’s because McD’s is usually less sweet. I often find the Starbucks version a little sickly sweet. And McD’s is on my way (and less expensive).
But I’ll also (attempt) to make my own: brewing my own coffee, adding the PM creamer – or adding peppermint itself. Years ago, President’s Choice had the best Candy Cane coffee. Ever. I remember going thru a few bags of it over the years, but I haven’t seen it in a long time. (If anyone sees it, please hoard a bag or two for me.) It was so good. Decadent; like drinking a cup of Christmas. And that’s how I feel about Peppermint Mochas. It’s like drinking a cup of Christmas.
The eye-catching gaudy reflective wrap…..I loved it.
Since today is December 1, it means I have to really get a move on with the shopping. Seriously. I need to get a move on! Hopefully, this weekend and coming week will be helpful. I will be working away for part of the coming week, cozied up in a hotel in a big city. I’m anxious and excited. But I’m hoping that a few days away will provide opportune time to shop and partake in exciting festivities when I’m not working. We will see what the week will bring. There is a lot going on in the next 7 to 10 days and I’m hoping I’ll have time to stop and breathe it all in….and have time to blink.
Regardless, I know I can rely on my morning indulge of hot (or cold) coffee and peppermint to soothe my soul as Christmas continues to creep up.
We are two days away from Halloween – and I just can’t get in the mood.
Every year I look forward to October (my favorite month!) and to Fall and to Halloween. But this year, I’m just not feeling any of it.
I have been extremely sleep deprived lately; having another onset of insomnia episodes. I’ll fall asleep fairly easily, most of the time, but waking up as early as 1am, without the ability to get back to sleep. My mind reels, and then I get angry, and I lay there. Wide Awake, waiting to get up and start my damn day. And with the sleep deprivation comes emotional roller coasters. It’s terrible. I don’t feel like myself a lot of the time; and the last few days I’ve been going through a depression that 100% got the best of me yesterday. I cried off and on for most of the day, to the point I was sobbing in a restaurant (which resulted in our server asking twice if she could give me a hug), sobbing in my car in the parking lot of a grocery store, sobbing in my bathtub, and sobbing in my husband’s arms. On top of sobbing at work and having minor meltdowns throughout the day. Last night, however, I had a few glasses of wine with a girlfriend after work, and then taking a few sleeping pills before bed. I slept about 10 hours, with the exception of a 5am wide awake, staring at walls session, before drifting back off. My body and mind needed the recoup.
That’s who I’ve been lately. That’s not who I am normally. And it’s affecting my outlook on everything, including my love and excitement of Halloween.
We have also been experiencing an Indian Summer of sorts ’round these parts, with warm weather and humidity, and it hasn’t felt too much like autumn weather this month. With the exception of today. This morning we woke to frosty lawns and air so cold we could see our breath. And of course, the sunshine and changing colors of trees and falling leaves have all left us with the impression of a regular October, for the most part, it’s felt like an extension of summer, complete with mosquitos.
I haven’t even participated in any spooky movies for October. Although, we did watch the new Halloween a few days ago and it sucked terribly. Honestly, whose idea was that? I was rooting for Michael Myers this time.
But yesterday. Let me tell you about yesterday morning. When I left my gym shortly after 7 am, I came outside to darkness, as the sun struggled to come up, and as I walked to my car, I took a deep, long inhale and it smelled like Christmas! The air was crispy, but not cold, and I could taste cool December and cloves and chimney smoke. And I am so entirely in the mood for Christmas. I cannot wait to start watching Hallmark movies and decorating and sharing glasses of spiced wine while sugar cookie candles burn. Maybe Christmas is what I need to bring me out of this funk that I feel I have fallen so deep into. I crave the noise of carols playing while we roam streets, and the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping, and the crowds of people who walk by smiling while struggling to balance their bags of presents and food.
I cannot wait to be in it. To be in the air of Christmas and the full fledge of holidays. I am not looking forward to cold weather and wearing boots (and pants!) and having cold toes all the time. But I am eager to become overjoyed with the abundance of love and gratefulness that oncoming Christmas makes me feel.
The air out there changes me. And I am desperate to breathe it in.
Happy December! Although I’ve been sorta giddy about Christmas and the holidays, as of yesterday (December 1st) I’ve officially decided to kick off the Christmas season.
Yesterday I spent the late morning and early afternoon with Angie Whoreface and her sister (& nephew, who was designated cart-pusher) doing some Christmas shopping. Regardless of where I go/am with Angie, it is always a blast. That girl keeps me in stitches. Of course, my spontaneous dance party in Walmart gave her a good chuckle too.
When I got home I was determined that my Christmas tree would be going up. I rearranged some furniture, dug out the decorations and got the beast up and decorated. And to put the final touch on THAT, I wrapped a crapload of presents and shoved them underneath. Of course, there are still bags and bags of gifts in my bedroom that need to be sorted and wrapped….and I’m not finished my shopping yet….but at least there’s a dent in that chore.
In the evening, Angie and her boyfriend’s sister, Tina popped over and we had an impromptu girls’ night. And to top off our evening (aside from the wine) we watched a Christmas movie: ELF.
I love Elf. It’s one of my favorite Christmas movies (and it was the second time I’d watched it inside of a week). It’s so funny. Will Ferrell is often annoying but I love him. Especially in this film. And it was just the kind of humor we needed for our evening.
My friend Anic is attempting a 25 days of Christmas movies challenge. I doubt that I can pull that off but I’m going to try and post about some of the different Christmas films I watch this year (and some of the classics my favorites).
So, while I sit here and enjoy a cup of Candy Cane Coffee and contemplate starting some Christmas baking, Jack Frost is playing in the background on TV. I’ve never seen it. It seems kinda lame. But Michael Keaton is still kinda cute so…y’know, there’s that.
Sandy the Social Butterfly 